Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-06-02
THE MAMMA.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY S. !. CUR
TISS, PHI. D., o. D.

TISS, PHI. D., D. D.
Lesson X of the International Series
Second Quarter), for Sunday, June 5.
en- Text, John vi, 35.
The Wilderness of Sinai.-After Israsl,s
great deliverance they were introduced to
life in the wilderness of Sinai. This wilder
ness is a triangle. Its base is $50 miles in
length. Its apex divides the Red'sea into two
arms. The side on the western arm, known
as the Gulf Of Suez, extends 100 miles; the
side on the eastern, called the Gulf Of Akaba,
Is 12O miles in length. Thus the peninsula of
Sinai contains an area of IL 800 square miles.
As the peninsula Of Sinai extends like a
wedge into the Red sea, so the desert of Et
Tih, which was the scene of the wanderings
OF the children of Israel, whose base is on the
Mediterranean, extends like a wedge into this
sAme peninsula. The desert of Et Tih, which
is also known as the Wilderness of Paran, is
divided into two nearly equal parts by the
Wady Ell Arish, or the river of Egypt the
western boundary of Israers promised pos
sessions, which has several branches, espe-
cially on the south and east sides From GAIA
to the foot of the Dead sea is the base of
another triangle which takes up the north
east corner of Et Tih, and which was known
as the Negeb, or South country Here
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob dwelt.
The most fertile part of this country, which
is inferior to the region above it, is the Negeb;
the Wilderness of the Wanderings, Et Tih is
comparatively sterile, and the Sinaitic penin-
sula produces but little vegetation except in
the wadies, or stream beds. 1t is believed,
however, by prominent geographers and ex-
plorers, for seemingly weighty reasons, that
the Sinaitic peninsula was once far more fer
tile than at present. Even now more than
5000 Bedawin find at least partial subsist-
ence In it, although their provisions are to
some extent, supplemented from Egypt.
Doubtless the peninsula has suffered from a
loss of trees, which were at one time ruth
lessly destroyed to furnish charcoal for ex-
portation.
But we may not suppose, under any circum-
stances, that the Sinaitic peninsula could have
begun to support 1900, 600 of people, or even
hundredth part of that number, if they had
to depend on the resources Of the country.
Under Rameses ii there were mines which
were worked on the west side of the penin-
sula. 1t may be that they were discontinued
under Mernephtah.
1t Is not possible to determine precisely the
route which the Israelites took. After cross
ing the Red Sea they went three days with
out water, and then on coming to Marah
found only that which was bitter The pre-
sence of natrun in the soil makes the water
bitter. 1t is commonly believed that Elm is
Wady Gharandel. There they found twelve
springs of water and seventy palm trees Ex
xv, 81. They could not always remain in
this delightful place. They passed on, there
fore, to the wilderness of Sin.
At the end Of six weeks the prospect seemed
most discouraging. The congregation Of
Israel was in the wilderness without food.
No wonder they murmured, and that they
forgot their hard bondage and longed for the
feshpOts of Egypt Ex. xvi, 81.
THE LESSON
What was the Mammal ". 4.-God there
fore undertakes to make provision for his
people, and promises to rain bread from
heaven for them each day. There has been
much discussion Is TO what Is intended here
by the mamma. Many think that it is the
product of the tamarisk tree, such as is found
to-day in small quantities. The yield is not
more than 600 or 700 pounds. Unless the
quantity was miraculously increased, like the
five loaves and two fishes, it could never have
furnished food enough for the IsraeIites. Be-
sides, this mama which comes from the tam
arisk tree is to be had only during two
months
The object of giving this food to Israel was
not only that God might preserve life, but
also that he might prove them whether they
would walk in his law or not
V. 5. Evidently the supply was miraculous
On the sixth day they were to make prepara-
tions for the seventh, for on that day there
was to be no fall of mama.
A Daily Reminder Tvs. 6-9.-The people
were to have daily reminder Of their de-
pendence on God. In the beginning at even
they were to know that the Lord had brought
them out of the land Of Egypt, in the gift Of
quails. These were to be furnished in such
numbers and abundance that they should rec
ognize that it was the direct provision Of
Gods hand, and that the same hand which
had smitten the irstborn Of the Egyptians,
and had opened way through the sea for
them, was now feeding them. In the morn
ing they were to see sight which had never
greeted their eyes before. They were to see
the ground covered with the pure white
mamma This must have been q peculiarly
impressive spectacle to them, as in Egypt
they had perhaps never seen snow or hoar
l.
xvi, 10.
They were reminded, too, that God heard
their murmurings, that these murmurings
were not directed against Moses, Gods serv-
ant, but against God himself.
The Congregation Before Jehovah Tvs
919.-Heretofore the people had prob
ably been more or less scattered. Now Aaron
bids them appear a congregation before the
Lord. While he is speaking to them they be-
hold wonderful sight Looking toward the
wilderness they see the glory of the Lord ap-
pear in the cloud, while he utters to Moses
almost the same words as those which they
had already heard, and assures them that be
tween the two evenings they shall eat flesh
and in the morning they shall be filed with
bread. In this was they were to know that
be was the Lord thsir God
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED.
l. The path to Canaan lay through the will
derness for the Israelites. It may be our lot
TO pass through the wilderness before we
reach the heavenly Canaan
q God appoints our lot in life. II we muir
muir under trial we murmur against him.
s. God will provide for US If we trust in
him. The psalmist spoke the truth of the in
spiration and experience when he said: Il
have been young and now am old; yet have
not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed
begging bread" Ps xxxvii, 25)
T. We should remember that daily food is
Gods gift and is an evidence that we have a
Father in heaven who hears the petition that
our Lord taught US to pray.
s. Jesus is the bread of life, the heavenly
mamma. II our souls feed on him we shall
not long for the heshpots of earthly pleas
lresL-Sunday School World.
A woman teacher in the New York Normal
college declares that she can feel already the
Of the appointment OF two women
IS commissioners Of the board Of education, in
he greater respect shown to women